lotions

The 5 Best Body Butters

Andrea Cannon — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:00:11 +0000

If dry skin has you down, body butter can help restore your skin’s softness and prevent future dryness. If lotions and creams aren’t cutting it for your dry skin, or you simply want something that packs more of a moisturizing punch, then body butter is the way to go. It can be used every day and is ideal for use on dry or freshly shaven skin.

Some body butters are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and other ultra-moisturizing ingredients that can benefit the skin in both the short and long-term. They can even help fight calluses and stretch marks.

What Is Body Butter?

Body butter is an intense form of cream for the body, which typically contains deeply moisturizing ingredients, fortifying vitamins, and antioxidants that can heal your dry winter skin. The rich, indulgent skincare item can add a significant amount of moisture back to the skin, which can prevent dryness and increase skin elasticity, which is particularly useful during pregnancy. A little goes a long way with body butter, so it should last you a long time.

Top 5 Body Butters

The Body Shop Body Butter

The Body Shop Body Butter is the body butter that all others are compared to. The rich, creamy body butter offers up to 24 hours of hydration and can heal dry skin quickly. The cult classic conditions the skin, prevents dryness, and increases skin elasticity. It quickly melts into the skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and non-greasy. It is infused with cocoa butter and shea butter, rich in antioxidants, and made with natural ingredients, so you can feel good about using it all over the body. It is organic, preservative-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, vegetarian, and contains Community Fair Trade coconut oil, which gives it an addicting tropical coconut scent.

The Body Shop first introduced body butter in 1992 and it has remained just as popular over the years. The best selling intense cream is ideal for all skin types and is available in more than 20 scents, or you can choose a multipack of scents. The addition of cocoa butter also makes it particularly well suited for pregnant women who want to prevent stretch marks. It is Consumer Search’s top pick, won the 2014 Total Beauty Readers’ Choice Award and 2011 Editors’ Choice Award, and is recommended by Teen Vogue, Rank & Style, Glamour, StyleCaster, and Huffington Post.

Currently $18.13 on Amazon

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Butter

One tub of the cult classic Soap & Glory Righteous Butter Body Butter is sold every 20 seconds for a reason. The award-winning intense body lotion features a unique moisture trap matrix, which can lock in hydration longer, so your skin stays soft and smooth all day. The luxurious, velvety cream is enhanced with shea butter, cocoa butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and aloe vera to give you the softest skin possible. The brand’s signature Original Pink fragrance combines fresh bergamot, mandarin, rose, jasmine, peach, strawberry, soft musk, and amber for an almost perfume-like scent that reviewers can’t seem to get enough of. It is ideal for all skin types and is particularly beneficial for aging, sensitive, or very dry skin.

This comes highly recommended with outstanding online reviews. It is also recommended by Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, StyleCaster, and Rank & Style.

Currently $26.85 on Amazon

Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter

The Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter is perfect for even the driest, scaly skin. The paraben-free body butter will smooth and soften the skin with ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter. It can restore moisture to even the driest skin and protect the skin from free radicals with antioxidant vitamins A and E, sodium hyaluronate, and arnica extract. The spa-quality cream can lock in moisture to keep skin soft and smooth all day.

This comes highly recommended and was selected as one of the best body butters by Elle, InStyle, Teen Vogue, and Glamour. The bestselling moisturizing body butter has a unique fresh citrus scent, but there are a range of scents available. If you go through lotion quickly, consider the Bliss Brilliant Butters trio, which offers a great deal, with three uniquely scented body butters.

Currently $18.00 on Amazon

Burt's Bees Honey & Shea Body Butter

If you’re looking for a natural solution, consider Burt's Bees Honey & Shea Body Butter. The rich paraben-free body butter is packed with antioxidants that will heal cracked skin and leave it instantly softer and more moisturized. It is ideal for all skin types, is delicately scented, and contains beneficial ingredients like honey, antioxidant-rich sweet almond oil, and shea butter, which will leave your skin feeling silky smooth.

It is commonly recommended online and was selected as one of the best body butters by Teen Vogue, StyleCaster, and Huffington Post. It is available in a range of scents and if you are expecting a baby soon, consider Amazon’s #1 best seller in body butter, the Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter.

Currently $8.40 on Amazon

Whish Pomegranate Body Butter

The Whish Pomegranate Body Butter can moisturize, soften, firm, and purify the skin at once with organic aloe, raspberry butter, shea butter, seaweed extract, rice bran oil, and a trio of rejuvenating antioxidant-rich moisturizers. The ultra indulgent, non-greasy cream will nourish the skin and prevent sun damage at the same time. It is paraben-free and sulfate-free, so you can feel good about using it on your skin. This duo pack includes a large pump and travel sized body butter, providing a great deal.

This body butter has become wildly popular thanks to word of mouth and outstanding online reviews, including a staggering 17,000 five-star reviews on Birchbox. It is available in a range of scents, but most people tend to prefer this Pomegranate fragrance.

Currently $12.22 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best body butters. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 5 Best Facial Moisturizers

Andrea Cannon — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 09:00:28 +0000

Dermatologists recommend using a daily facial moisturizer as part of your daily skincare routine. It can hydrate your skin today, while protecting it for more beautiful skin tomorrow. Facial moisturizer can be used on its own or together with serum, toner, acne treatments, makeup, and any other products you use on a daily basis.

What Is Facial Moisturizer?

Facial moisturizer can soften the skin and form a barrier to protect your skin from environmental damage. It can enhance your skin's natural moisturizing capabilities, providing you with the softest, smoothest skin possible. There are unique options available for each different skin type and some moisturizers can even address specific skin conditions.

Once you have found the right facial moisturizer, make sure to apply it twice daily after cleansing, on both your face and neck, as the neck is the first area of the body to show signs of aging. It is also important to choose a moisturizer with UV protection, or apply a sunscreen on top to further protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

Top 5 Facial Moisturizers

CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion AM

CeraVe is a trusted brand, developed with dermatologists, and as Amazon’s #1 new release in facial moisturizing lotions, the CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion AM, SPF 30 contains sunscreen to provide broad-spectrum daily protection against sun's damaging UV aging and burning rays. The daily-use, non-comedogenic moisturizer helps to protect and restore the skin, keeping it younger and healthier looking. It helps repair damaged skin with ingredients not commonly found in typical moisturizers. The ceramide rich formula contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to reduce redness and repair and restore the skin.

The light and silky lotion uses patented multi-vesicular emulsion (MVE) technology to release the potent ingredients over time, allowing them to penetrate deep into the skin to maintain a healthy skin barrier. With SPF 30 to help protect your skin, you won’t need to worry about applying sunscreen over this. It is fragrance-free, making it ideal for both women and men of all skin types, from normal to dry, including acne-prone skin.

It is also ideal for all ages, including mature skin, and was even a top pick by the American Grandparents Association. It is one of the top facial moisturizers according to ConsumerSearch and is also an Allure pick for the best moisturizers under $20. In fact, it is so highly rated with professionals, beauty gurus, and users alike that both the AM and PM creams made our list for the best facial moisturizers.

Currently $9.35 on Amazon

Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Daily Moisturizer

As Amazon’s #1 best seller in facial tinted moisturizers, the Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Daily Moisturizer, SPF 15 has a fast-absorbing formula that leaves skin soft and smooth. Gentle enough for sensitive skin and daily use, this oil-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic moisturizer won’t clog pores and is clinically proven to improve skin tone and texture and reduce skin discoloration in as little as four weeks. With clinically proven total soy complex and natural light diffusers, this daily moisturizer immediately reflects light to leave you with a nice glow, by highlighting the skin's natural radiance.

The soy proteins work to reduce blotchiness and discoloration, while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It contains SPF 15 UVA/UVB sunscreen to protect against the damaging effects of sun. The Aveeno Positively Radiant collection contains a range of products designed to help reveal your most radiant skin. This daily moisturizer can easily be combined with other products from the line. Recommended by dermatologists for over 60 years, AVEENO uses select natural ingredients because of their advanced benefits and ability to deliver visible results.

Currently $11.01 on Amazon

CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM

CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM is a daily use, non-comedogenic, facial moisturizer that can help to protect the skin all night, keeping it younger and healthier looking. The ceramide-rich formula contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid and provides essential ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin to moisturize and nourish skin throughout the night while locking in moisture. It helps repair damaged skin using ingredients not commonly found in other moisturizers.

Its patented multivesicular emulsion (MVE) technology allows the ingredients to penetrate deep into the skin to hydrate and nourish, releasing the essential ingredients over time. It is fragrance-free, making it ideal for both women and men of all skin types, from normal to dry, including acne-prone skin. CeraVe is a trusted brand, developed with dermatologists, and CeraVe is so highly rated with professionals, beauty gurus, and users alike that both the AM and PM creams made our list for the best facial moisturizers. It is also one of the top facial moisturizers according to ConsumerSearch.

Currently $7.28 on Amazon

St. Ives Facial Moisturizer, Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin

As one of Amazon’s #1 most popular facial moisturizers, St. Ives Facial Moisturizer, Timeless Skin is made with collagen and elastin proteins and enriched with natural proteins, glycerin, and safflower oil. It is formulated to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as seven days of regular use. St. Ives formulas use effective, natural ingredients for visibly softer, smoother, younger looking skin.

The creamy moisturizer uses all-natural moisturizers to combat dryness and improve elasticity, while hydrating and protecting your skin. The hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, non-irritating lotion is safe and gentle on all skin types and can be used daily to hydrate, tone, and firm the skin, while naturally preventing the signs of aging. A little goes a long way, so the affordable 10 oz container should last you a long time.

Currently $4.79 on Amazon

Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Creme

Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Creme is thick, creamy, and extremely nourishing. It has a gentle, non-irritating formula, which reduces wrinkles and other signs of aging, while firming and moisturizing the skin. It is ideal for dry, sensitive skin and can reduce the look of wrinkles and the early signs of aging without irritating the skin. It helps to replenish Q10, a naturally occurring enzyme that defends against skin aging and is vital to healthy skin. Together with Vitamin E and Beta-Carotene, it also forms a powerful antioxidant complex to protect against the damaging effects of free radicals.

This fragrance-free, alcohol-free, non-irritating lotion won’t clog pores and can be used everyday, on its own or under makeup. The Q10 creme has outstanding customer reviews online and promises visible results within five weeks. It is also ideal for all ages, including mature skin, and was even a top pick from the American Grandparents Association. Eucerin is a trusted brand and the various products topped a range of online reviews and independent review sites, including the Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion, SPF 30, which is an Allure “Best of Beauty” Award Winner.

Currently $7.93 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best facial moisturizers. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Homemade Lotion Recipes

Elizabeth Lang — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:36:16 +0000

Have you ever looked at the ingredient label on your face or body lotion? Most brands of lotions contain parabens, alcohols, and other ingredients that may be harmful to your skin. (There’s a reason to avoid parabens in particular — they may be hormone disruptors.)

Sadly, even my Kiss My Face lotion, which I bought because it is paraben-free, has over 40 ingredients in it. (The lotion works well, and I’m thankful for the lack of parabens, but because of the number of ingredients, it’s definitely not ideal in my book.)

Many lotions labeled “natural” and “organic” have more ingredients than you need and may still include ingredients that harm your skin. If you’re looking for a commercially-sold lotion, check out the site Skin Deep for a list of the safest lotions.

A great alternative to buying lotion is making your own. Not only can you avoid unwanted chemicals, but many of the lotion recipes will save you money because the products are cheaper. This is because homemade lotions are more concentrated, and you need a much smaller amount than store-bought lotions. (See also: 10 Budget Beauty Products You Can Make at Home)

Here are some of my favorite homemade recipes.

The Easiest Homemade Lotion

Olive oil, or
Grapeseed oil, or
Vitamin E oil

Any of these oils will provide a lot of moisture to your hands without needing to mix any ingredients.

Instructions: Purchase a small bottle of the oil. I find that Trader Joe’s or local Middle Eastern grocery stores have some of the cheapest prices for olive oil. (You may want to smell the olive oil to make sure it’s not extremely smelly.) The other oils can be found at a local pharmacy or health foods store. Place a small dab of oil on your hand for the perfect amount of moisture.

Honey Lotion

5 tbsp emulsifying wax
1 tbsp liquid lanolin
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon honey

Instructions: Over medium heat in a double boiler, melt the ingredients until smooth.

Almond Lotion

1 tbsp vitamin E oil
1 tbsp grapeseed oil
1 oz grated beeswax
1-1/4 cups almond oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup water

Instructions: In a double boiler over low-medium heat, melt the beeswax with the almond and coconut oil. Let cool. In a separate container, mix the remaining ingredients. Using a whisk or blender, mix these ingredients into the beeswax/almond/coconut mixture.

Grapeseed Oil Lotion

Grapeseed is a lighter oil and won’t be as rich as the other recipes above.

3 tbsp beeswax (or emulsifying wax)
2/3 cup grapeseed oil (or mix 1/3 grapeseed and 1/3 olive oil)
2 tsp coconut oil
4 tbsp water

Instructions: In a double boiler over low-medium heat, melt the beeswax or emulsifying wax and add in the grapeseed oil and coconut oil. Mix everything well. Let cool slightly and blend or whisk in the water.

In all of the above recipes you can add in drops (usually around 15-20) of your favorite essential oils for a great-smelling lotion. (Lemon and lavender are some excellent options.)

You’ll want to store the lotions in a glass jar in a cool and dry place. They should last several weeks to several months depending on your climate.

Do you currently buy organic/natural lotion? Have you ever considered making your own?

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This article is from Elizabeth Lang of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Secret to Larger Breasts

Andrea Karim — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:07:40 +0000

Thanks for the mammaries!

I've always wanted to say that.

Now, in addition to I-must-I-must-I-must-increase-my-bust exercises, push-up bras, and pricey implants, you can increase breast size by stimulating the mammary glands using all natural ingredients: lavender and tea tree oils! Just apply, and presto! Instant gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia is the sexy term that is applied to breast development... in men. That's right - it's science-talk for man-boobs. Gynecomastia can be caused by a number of factors, and isn't terribly uncommon. It turns out that tea tree and lavender oils, both common ingredients in soaps, bath oils, and all kinds of body lotion, may promote breast development in young boys.

This isn't breaking news by any means, but I'm currently researching for a post about aromatherapy, and I keep coming across these articles. Having mentioned it to a friend who hadn't heard about it (OR the pet food recall), I thought I should post something about it.

As reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, at least three boys, aged 4 to 10, developed breasts after months-long use of "natural" bath products that contained lavender and tea tree oil. Just like young women during puberty, one of the boys even experienced soreness. According to ABC News:

The oils appeared to mimic estrogen and block the male hormone androgen.... On product labels, the oils sometimes are listed by their scientific names: Lavandula angustifolia (lavender oil) and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil). Such products do not require government approval to be sold unless they make specific health claims.

This is interesting given how often lavender is touted as a "relaxing" scent, and even added to bath oils formulated for babies. Tea tree oil has long been used as a disinfectant, and is often pitched as a homeopathic remedy for infections, from scratches to pimples.

Apparently, the gynecomastia subsided and the boys' newly blossoming bosoms disappeared after discontinuing use of the product. This is the recommended course of action - actually, I don't want to start any widespread panic, but perhaps just lay off the lavender/tea tree essentials for a while, yes? I took a course in natural perfumery, which is a whole other load of bunk altogether, but basically, lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree were the oils to avoid; they were that caustic.

No one has yet called for a ban on either of these natural products, and the problem seems to be relatively benign in the long run, unless you count the mental scarring that those poor kids had to go through. Hey, being a kid is difficult enough as it is. Throw boobs into the equation and you've got some therapy up ahead.

This article is from Andrea Karim of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: